Who was Southgate Jigsaw man? – Flatmates still quizzed

Murder detectives are continuing to quiz the flatmates of a Southgate man whose body parts were spread across two counties.

Yesterday police identified the victim as 49-year-old kitchen salesman Jeffrey Howe – very little information has been released only that he was not married and had no children, worked around the country and had been a chef in Italy.

A couple, a 37-year-old man and 20-year-old woman shared the property with the man. The man was arrested in the same block of flats that Howe lived after a tip off and he is believed to have been a colleague. They are being held on suspicion of murder.

Operation Athena

100 officers are involved in Operation Athena – after the Greek goddess of wisdom and justice.

The search for Howe, 49, began when his left leg and foot were found by the side of a road in Hertfordshire, north of London, on March 22.

His lower left arm — cut off at the elbow and wrist — was found on a grass verge in the region on March 29, while a farmer in Leicestershire, about 100 miles north, found the head two days later.

His right leg was found in Hertfordshire on April 7 and a rotting torso, complete with the right arm, was found on April 11.

Only Howe’s hands remain missing.

Police believe he was killed by a stab wound to the back.

Brother’s statement

In a statement, Mr Howe’s brother, who was not named, said:

“Jeffrey was an extremely caring son.

“He was a jovial, charming character who had a heart of gold and would get on with anyone.

“Although we didn’t have a great deal of contact and we hadn’t seen each other for a few months, as you can imagine our family has been left extremely traumatised by what has happened.

“We are finding it extremely hard to come to terms with what has happened.”

Speaking to journalists, former work colleague Sophoclis Sophocli laid flowers at the dead man’s home said:

“I used to come round here to watch football with him.

“He supported Manchester United and I supported Tottenham and that was the last time I saw him when they played in the Carling Cup.

“We worked together at the same firm and kept in touch when we moved on.

“He was a lovely guy, very hardworking, and with a lot of heart.”

Neighbours say he was “aggressive” – “not seen for months”

Neighbours however said he was “aggressive” and argued about children playing outside his flat.

Residents said they had not seen Mr Howe or his two cars for about six months and said they believed he had rented out his two-bedroom ground-floor flat.